21st TSC Commander visits 405th AFSB

Maj. Gen. Yves Fontaine (left), commander of the 21st Theater Sustainment Command, receives a briefing from Col. Bobby Ray Pinkston (right), commander of the 405th Army Field Support Brigade, on the brigade\'s operations and support to the sustainment mission throughout the European theater of operations.

Maj. Gen. Yves Fontaine (left), commander of the 21st Theater Sustainment Command, receives a briefing from Col. Bobby Ray Pinkston (right), commander of the 405th Army Field Support Brigade, on the brigade\'s operations and support to the sustainment mission throughout the European theater of operations.

The purpose of the visit was to deliver a command briefing on the 405th's theater and integration support capabilities.

During the briefing, Col. Bobby Ray Pinkston, 405th AFSB commander, emphasized his priorities for the brigade.

"My highest priority is support to our U.S. Army Europe units," he said. "I believe we are the advocate for the customers.

"I also consider the rationalization and restructuring of 'Echelon Above Brigade Combat Team' level logistics in USAREUR to be of the utmost importance, and I intend for us to continue our support to Army force generation."

The briefing covered the brigade's wide range of activities throughout the European theater, including reset, retrograde and left behind equipment operations and an overview of all U.S. Army Materiel Command units in Europe.

The 405th AFSB is an AMC unit, but it falls under the operational control of the 21st TSC. Fontaine emphasized that the opcon relationship is an integral part of ensuring the Army's mission success in Europe.

"The fusion that occurs between our two organizations is key to the success of our opcon relationship," Fontaine stated. "That fusion is critical. As the 21st TSC commander, I'm trying to build a team. The 405th is part of the 21st TSC family, and we do things as a team. We're all working to build a sustainment base in Europe."

Pinkston concurred with the necessity of a strong relationship between the two organizations.

"(Since the opcon) we've become an integral part of your staff, and we understand your intent," he said.

Fontaine also stressed that every unit's success is dependent not just upon its relationships with other Army organizations but the dedication and professionalism of its staff.

"I know you are all working hard, and I appreciate that," Fontaine told the 405th AFSB staff. "I'm grateful for opportunities to maintain visibility of your operations because it is important for me to understand what your issues are at your level so that I can help you."

Over the next few weeks, Fontaine will be visiting other AMC operations throughout Europe.